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JULY 8, 1918 - FEBRURARY 1, 2012
RESIDENT OF DANVILLE, CA
The oldest and longest serving priest of the Diocese of Oakland, Msgr. John T. McCracken died peacefully at St. Isidore Rectory, Danville, CA on February 1, 2012. Monsignor was born in Palo Alto on July 8, 1918, the eldest son of Thomas and Margaret McCracken, natives of Ireland. He attended St. Agnes School in San Francisco and studied for one year at Sacred Heart High prior to entering St. Joseph's High School and College Seminary in 1933. Monsignor was ordained by Archbishop John Joseph Mitty for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on September 23, 1944 after completing four years of theological studies at St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park. The newly ordained priest was first assigned to St. Augustine Church in Oakland and served there for four years prior to attending Catholic University in Washington to obtain a Master's Degree in Social Work. Msgr. McCracken spent the next twenty-five years in social work and was founding director of Catholic Charities of Oakland (now of the East Bay), along with seven years of teaching nurses medical ethics. He supported a summer ministry for poor children at Fr. Phillip's Sunshine Camp in Mendocino County. In recognition of his services, he was appointed a member of the Papal Household and elevated to the rank of Monsignor on March 1, 1967. In 1979 he was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. After Catholic Charities and until retirement some five years ago, Monsignor served as a pastor at St. Benedict's, Oakland; Queen of All Saints, Concord; St. Mary's, Walnut Creek, and the final twenty years at St. Anne's, Rossmoor. Msgr. McCracken came to live in retirement at St. Isidore Parish, Danville, four years ago and conducted a scripture study class and book review seminars. He was active in the life and liturgy of St. Isidore Parish until shortly before his death.
He is predeceased by his brother Jim, who served twenty-five years as administrator of the Children's Hospital at Stanford and his sister- in-law, Helen McCracken. He is survived by his nieces Joanne McCracken, Kathleen (John) Phillips, nephews Seamus McCracken, great-nephew James McCracken Phillips and great-niece Margaret Phillips.
The Funeral service will take place at St. Isidore Church, Danville, on Monday, February 6th at 10:30AM, located at 440 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA 94526, (925) 837-2122. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Monsignor McCracken to Catholic Charities of the East Bay, 433 Jefferson Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services, Diocese of Oakland - Queen of Heaven Cemetery, (925) 932-0900.
Guest Book
I hope it will be a comfort to you to know how many people's lives were influenced and change for the better by knowing Monsignor.
He will be in my prayers, that God welcomes him with open arms.
May God bless you always and in all ways.